House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 21 January 1660

Saturday, January 21st, 1659.

Custos Brevium.

THE Question being propounded, That John Trevor Esquire be, and is hereby, nominated and appointed to execute the Office of Custos Brevium, upon Account, during the Pleasure of the Parliament;

And the Question being put, That this Question be now put;

The House was divided.

The Noes went forth.

So it passed with the Affirmative.

And the main Question being put; It was

Resolved, That John Trevor Esquire be, and is hereby, nominated and appointed to execute the Office of Custos Brevium, upon Account, during the Pleasure of the Parliament.

Ordered, That it be referred to a Committee, to consider of the Office of Custos Brevium, and of all other ministerial Offices that are, or shall be, in the Disposal of the Commonwealth; to examine the Value thereof; and how the same may be managed for the best Advantage of the Commonwealth; and to report their Opinion therein, from time to time, to the Parliament: Viz. unto Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper, Colonel Morley, Mr. Weaver, Colonel Birch, Mr. Millington, Mr. Lenthall, Sir Peter Wentworth, Mr. Dormer, Mr. Pury, Mr. * Goodwin, Mr. Nelthrope, Mr. Blagrave, Mr. Harby, Sir Tho. Widdrington, Sir Wm. Brereton, Justice Hill, Sir Arthur Hesilrig, Lord St. John, Lord Commissioner Lisle, Mr. Nevill, Mr. Corbet, Colonel Dove, Mr. Ash, Colonel White, Colonel Lister, Sir John Trecor, Mr. Ralegh, Mr. West, Colonel Hutchinson, Earl Pembrooke, Mr. Skynner, Mr. Say, Mr. John Goodwin, Mr. Lechmere, Sir James Harrington, Sir Henry Mildmay, Colonel Waite, Mr. Gurdon; or any Five of them: And are to meet on Monday, at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber: With Power to send for Persons, Papers, and Witnesses.

Settling the Government.

Ordered, That it be referred to a Committee to bring in a Declaration, That the Parliament intends forthwith to proceed to the Settlement of the Government: And will uphold a Learned and Pious Ministry of the Nation, and their Maintenance by Tythes, and the known Laws of the Land: And that they will proceed to fill up the House so soon as may be; and to settle the Commonwealth without a King, Single Person, or House of Peers: And will promote the Trade of the Nation: And will reserve due Liberty to tender Consciences: And also encourage and settle the Universities: And that the Parliament will not meddle with the executive Power of the Law, but only in Cases of Male-Administration and Appeals; and that Proceedings shall be according to the Laws: And also, That they will ease the Burdens of the Nation, as much as is consistent with the pressing Necessities of the Commonwealth: Viz. unto Lord Chief-Justice St. John, Sir Arthur Hesilrig, Mr. Attorney-General, Mr. Solicitor-General, Mr. Say. And it is especially referred to the Lord St. John and Sir Arthur Hesilrig, to take care, that this Declaration be brought in on Monday Morning next.

Grant to Ad. Lawson.

Resolved, That Five hundred Pounds a Year, Land of Inheritance, be settled on Vice-Admiral Lawson, and his Heirs, for his Fidelity and good Service done for the Parliament and Commonwealth: And that it be referred to the Committee to whom it was referred to set out One thousand Pounds Land a Year, to be settled on Commissioner George Monck, to set out Lands, of the Value of Five hundred Pounds a Year, to be settled on ViceAdmiral Lawson, and his Heirs, accordingly.

Assessment.

The House, according to former Order, proceeded this Day in reading the Bill of Assessment.

Resolved, That the Names of all Persons who acted in the pretended Committee of Safety, be put out of this Bill.

The Question being put, that Captain Beake do stand, in the Bill, as a Commissioner, in the County of Bucks;

It passed with the Negative.

The Question being put, That Major Audley do stand a Commissioner, in this Bill, in the County of Cambridge;

It passed with the Negative.

Commitment of a Member dispensed with.

The Parliament being informed, That Major Salwey is indisposed in his Health;

Resolved, That the Parliament doth dispense with Major Salwey's going to the Tower: And that the Order of the Seventeenth instant, for his going to the Tower, be, and is hereby, remitted: And that he have Liberty to go into the Country, where . . shall think fit.

The House adjourns itself till Monday, Eight a Clock in the Morning.